Final score San miguel vs Alaska 2016 Game 5

The San Miguel Beermen defeated the Alaska Aces a second straight time in Game 5, 86-73, in overtime to stay alive in their hunt for a second straight PBA Philippine Cup championship on Wednesday, January 27, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Off the heels of an improbable comeback win in Game 4, San Miguel handed Alaska its first consecutive back-to-back losses of the season to make the finals a 3-2 series.

Reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo made his return to the court after hurting his knee in Game 6 of the semifinals and played 16:28 minutes in his first appearance of the Finals.

San Miguel becomes the first team in 19 years to send a PBA Finals series to a Game 6 after being down 0-3. The last team to do it was the 1997 Alaska Aces, who eventually lost in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals to the Gordon’s Gin Boars.

No team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a PBA Finals series.

“I think the players and the fans were inspired by June Mar,” said Beermen head coach Leo Austria after his team outscored Alaska in overtime by 13.

Austria actually told the media after Game 4 that Fajardo would suit up if the Beermen force the Aces to a Game 7, but it was his reigning two-time MVP’s insistence that led to his playing two games earlier.

“We didn’t want him to play but he insisted, ‘Coach, I want to help the team,’” Austria said.

“I talked to him before the game: ‘I don’t need you to score. I don’t need your big points. I need your rebounds, your defense,’” Austria said of Santos.

Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter were the other Beermen in double-figures, accounting for 13 and 12 points, respectively.

“I have to salute the players, because they know what our situation is, and they showed their heart. I think that’s the heart of a champion. They don’t want to lose, and they’re playing to win,” said a pleased Austria post-game.

Vic Manuel, the favorite to win Finals MVP if Alaska becomes champion, finished with a career-high 25 points to go with 13 rebounds for the Aces.